Supporting means for economizers



Au 3, 1937. J. H. SENGSTAKEN SUPPORTING MEANS FOR EGONOMIZERS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 17, 1936 ""Nlifi ll mm 40 INVENTOR 101g: 5Szzgjdaitew ATTORNEY Aug. 3, 1937., .1. H. SENGSTAKEN SUPPORTING MEANSFOR ECONOMIZERS Filed June 17, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IILIVENTOR Ja/mHSasZa/fm/ 0. ATTORNEY Patented A g- 3, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEJohn H. Sengstaken, Plandome, N. Y., assignor 11;) {The SuperheaterCompany, New York,

Application June 17, 1936, Serial No. 85,670

11 Claims.

This invention relates to heat transfer apparatus and particularly tomeans for supporting the tubular heat absorbing elements thereof. Theinvention will be described by way of illustration as embodied in aneconomizer having tubes through which boiler' feed water is circulatedto absorb heat from the boiler gases. v

A feature of the invention resides in relieving the headers for thetubes of substantially all the strain usually imposed thereon by theweight of the tubes.

A second feature resides in providing for easy removal of some of thetubes for replacement or repairs without disturbing the supporting meansfor other tubes.

Other features andadvantages of the invention will become apparent uponconsideration of the following detailed description and the appendedclaims when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:I

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of an economizer embodying thepresent invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of theeconomizer as indicated on the line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the mounting of theeconomizer in a boiler, parts being'omitted for simplicity ofillustration;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional 3O elevation illustratinga modified arrangement embodying the invention;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view through theeconomizer showing means for spacing and supporting the center portionsof the 3 economizer tubes;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view showing supporting means forthe end portions of the economizer tubes; f

Figure 7 is a view similar'to Fig. 6 showinga 40 modified arrangement;and l Figure 8 is a sectional view Fig. 3. j

Referring to the drawings, the economizer comprises an open-ended casingII] which con- 45 tains a plurality of sinuous tubular heat absorbingelements l2, one of which appears in side elevation in Fig. 1. Theelements l2 are disposed in side by side relation (Fig. 3), and exposedto boiler gases that flow through the casing for 50 heating feed wateror other fluid circulated through the elements between the inlet andoutlet headers l4 and I6 respectively. Each element comprises a numberof superposed tubes l8 interconnected byreturn bends to form a continu-55 ous and sinuous tubular element and, as illuson line 8--a in tratedin the drawings, consists of several sections 2|, 22, 23, 24 and thereturn bends or couplings 20, connecting the lower tube 25 of onesection to the upper tube 26 of the adjacent section, are disconnectablefrom these tubes. Like- 5 wise the end tubes 21 of each element aredisconnectable from the headers I4, I 6.

Plates 30, individual to each section of each element are secured nearthe ends of the component tubes of each section in any convenient 10manner, and near their mid-points also if desired. Several series ofbeams 32, 33, 34 that extend transversely of the economizer between thesections of the elements l2 are aligned with and supportingly engaged bythe plates 30, asso- 15 ciated with corresponding sections of all theele- I ments. The plates 30 associated with the component tubes of thelowest sections 24 in all the elements rest upon a similar series ofbeams extending beneath the lowermost sections. Corre- 20 spondinglypositioned beams, near the ends and mid-points of the tubes, are invertical alignment and rest upon collars or nuts 40 on rods 42 extendingthrough the beams and suspended from. saddle members 46.mounted on thesteam and 25 water drum 48 of the boiler. Thus, the economizer issuspended from the steam drum of the boiler and located in a gas passagecommunicating with the off-take thereof. The supporting rods 42 whichinterconnect the several series of 30 beams 32, 33, 34 are locatedbetween downcomer tubes 44 connecting the steam drum with the water drum5|] and lining the walls of the ofi-take (Fig. 8) so that the suspensionrods are protected against high temperature conditions in 35 the gaspassage.

' The plates 30 which interconnect the component tubes of each sectionof an element l2 near the ends are in abutment at their side edges andbeing located between the beams 34 comple- 40 ment the latter to formend walls for the gas path through the economizer. The plates 30connected to the mid-points of the tubes may likewise be arranged toform a baffle dividing the gas passage. Plates 30 preferably have theirside edges formed with a sinuous contour so that the plates may benested in such manner that they interlock and afford mutual support toeach other. The interlocking of the sides of plates 30 is of particularadvantage when, as illustrated in Figs. 4 to '7, several sections 2|,22, 23 of each element are supported upon a single series of beams 32,33, 34 instead of there being a series of beams between the sections 2|and 22 and between sections 22 and 23 as in Fig. 1. With thisinterlocking arrangement, the plates 30 associated with the componenttubes of a section, such as 22, of any element l2 rest in part upon theplate for the next lower section'23 of the same 5 element and in partupon the plate for the corresponding section 22 adjacent thereto. Thus,if a section 23 of an element is removed, as illustrated in Fig. 6, thesection '22 thereabove of the same element remains supported due' to thesupporting engagement of the edge portions 53 of the plates 39.

In Fig. '7 the plates 36 connected to the component tubes of thesections 22 and 23 are illustrated as having straight rather thansinuous edges and the plates for contiguous (vertical) sections of anelement are ofiset with respect to each other so that the plate for anupper section, as 22, rests in part upon the plate for the next lowersection 23 of the same element and in part upon the plate for thesection 23 of an adjacentelement I2. Thus, as illustrated for the secondelement.,l2 from the left of Fig. '7, a section, such as 23, may bedisconnected and removed while the upper sections 22 and 2| of the sameelement remain fully supported.

If desired, the component tubes of the elements may be maintained inspaced relation at their mid-points in any suitable manner instead of bymeans of plates 30. One such arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 5wherein the component staggered tubes of each of the respective sectionsiit into notches in the side edges of plates 35 and are connected to thelatter as by welding.

It will be seen that since the component tubes of each correspondingsection of each element are connected to plates 3ll-and the plates forcorresponding sections of all the elements are supported ,upon a commonseries of beams extending. transversely .therebeneath, any section ofany .elementmay readily .be removed from the economizer fo'rirepair orreplacement by,.disconnecting' the. endtubes of 'a particular sectionfrom the-related couplings or return bends and, in the icase'fof the.upper and lower sections, from the headers l4,. l6.' The headers l4, l6are relieved 'of the weights of the tubes and the entire econo mizermayjreadily be suspended from the boiler drum 50. or a convenientportion of the boiler frame since the several sets of vertically aligned50 beams 34 are interconnected and supported by the rods. 42.

Althoughillustrative embodiments of the invention have been shown' inthe drawings and described in detail herein, it is-understood that thereare manychanges. and variations that may be made Without departing fromthe invention and it is therefore intended to include all such changesand variations within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an economizer or. the like having a plurality of fluidcirculating. elements disposed in side byside relation-and each dividedinto a number of superimposed. sectionswhich comprise 65 sinuouslyconnected parallel tubes, and detachable couplings interconnecting the.component sections of the respectiveelements; a plurality of supportingmembers extending transversely of said elementsbetween the sectionsthereof and 70 below the lowermost sections thereof and supp0rt ingcorresponding sections of all saidelements so that upon'disconnection ofany section of any element from the related coupling said section mayberemoved from'the economizer while the 75 other sections of the sameelement remain supported by the transverse members associated therewith;and means supporting said members.

2. In an economizer or the like having a plurality of sinuous fluidcirculating elements disposed in side by side relation and each dividedinto a number of superimposed sections which comprise interconnectedparallel tubes, and detachable couplings interconnecting the severalsections of the respective elements; members extending transversely ofsaid elements between the sections thereof and below the lowermostsections thereof in vertically spaced and aligned relation near each endof the lowermost tube of each section; individual means attached to thelowermost tube, at least, of each section of each element at locationscorresponding to the positions of said transverse members, said meansfor any section resting on the transverse member immediately 'therebelowso that upon disconnection of any section of an element from the relatedcoupling saidsection may be removed from the economizer while any othersection of the same element remains fully supported by the respectivetransverse member therebelow; and means interconnecting verticallyaligned transverse members for suspending the economizer from a fixedsupport thereabove. v

3. In an economizer or the like having at least one fluid circulatingelement that is divided into a number of superimposed sections whichcomprise sinuously connected parallel tubes with detachable couplingsinterconnecting the several sections of said element; a plurality ofseries of beamsv extending transversely of the economizer, certainseries extending betweenthe sections of said element and another. seriesextending beneath the lowermost section thereof, said beams beingpositioned below and adjacent the ends of the lowermost tubes of eachsection of said element and correspondingly positioned beams being invertical alignment; a plurality of series of plates connected with thecomponenttubes .of each section of said element and. aligned with saidbeams, the plates for eachsection of said element'being individualthereto and removably supported on-the transverse beams beneath thelowermost tube'thereof so that upon disconnection of any section fromthe related coupling the said section may be removed from the economizerwhile the other sections of said element .re-

main supported on thetransverse beams beneathsaid sections; and meansinterconnecting vertically aligned beams for supporting the economizer.

4. In an economizer or the like having a plurality of sinuous fluidcirculatingelements disposed inside by side relation and each dividedinto a number of superimposed sections. which comprise interconnectedsuperposed tubes, and detachable couplings interconnecting the severalsections of the respective elements; a plurality.of plates attachedt'othe tubes of each section at intervals along said tubes; a plurality ofseries of similarly spaced beams extending between the sections thereofand beneath the lowermost sections thereofand each engaged by a seriesof said platesassociated'witheach element .forsupporting'correspondingsections of said elements; and means interconnectingcorrespondingly positioned beams for supportingthe economizer. I V I 15. In an economizer or the like havingla plurality of sinuousfluidcirculating elements each divided into a number of superimposed sectionscomprising parallelly arranged interconnected tubes with detachablecouplings connecting the component sections of each element; a platedisposed in each section adjacent each'end of the component tubesthereof and interconnecting said tubes; and correspondingly positionedseries of vertically spaced beams extending transverselyof the elementsbetween the sections of said elements and beneath the lowermost sectionsof the latter upon which said plates for corresponding sections of saidelements are supported so that upon disconnection of the coupling orcouplings associated with any section of any element said section may bewithdrawn from the economizer together with the plates for the tubesthereof while the remaining sections of said element remain supportedupon the transverse beams asso ciated therewith.

6. In an economizer or the like having a plurality of fluid circulatingelements disposed in side by side relation and each divided into anumber of superimposed sections which comprise interconnected parallellyarranged tubes, and detachable couplings connecting the sections of therespective elements; a plurality of vertically spaced series of beamsextending transversely of the economizer elements between sections ofthe latter and below the lowermost sections thereof, the beams of eachseries being disposed adjacent each end and near the midpoints of thelowest tubes in the respective sections of said elements; a plurality ofcorrespondingly located plates individual to each section of eachelement spacing the tubes of each section and removably supported onsaid beams, the plates for corresponding sections of adjacent elementsbeing in abutment at their sides and together with said beams upon whichthey rest forming walls defining gas passages through the economizer;and means interconnecting the vertically aligned beams for supportingthe economizer.

7. In an economizer or the like having a plurality of fluid circulatingelements disposed in side by side relation and each comprising aplurality of superposed tubes sinuously connected by fixed return bendsto form tube groups removable as units from each element, and detachablecouplings interconnecting each tube group above the lowermost one in therespective elements to the group below; one or more plates individual toeach tube group and interconnecting the component tubes thereof, theplates for the groups above the lowermost one in each element resting atleast in part upon the plates for the next lower group of the sameelement; one or more beams extending transversely of said elements andsupportingly engaging the plates for the lowest tube groups of therespective elements, the plates for the several superposed groups of therespective elements interlocking with the plates for adjacent elementsso that upon removal of a group of tubes from a particular element, any

I other groups of tubes of said element above the position of the groupremoved therefrom are supported on said beam or beams through theintermediary of plates associated with the elements adjacent saidparticular element; and means for supporting said beams.

8. In an economizer or the like having a plurality of fluidcirculatingvelements disposed in side by side relation and eachcomprising a plurality of superposed tubes sinuously connected by fixedreturn bends to form tube groups removable as units from each element,and detachable couplings interconnecting each tube group above thelowermost one in the respective elements to the group below; one or moreplates for the next lower group of the sameelement;

one or more beams extending transversely of said elements andsupportingly engaging the plates for the lowest tube groups of therespective elements, the plates for the several superposed groups of therespective elements being positioned to interlock with the plates foradjacent elements so that upon removal of a group of .tubes from aparticular element, any other groups of tubes of said element above theposition of the group removed therefrom are supported on said beam orbeams through the intermediary of plates associated with the elementsadjacent said particular element; and means for supporting said beams.

9. In an economizer or the like having a plurality of fluid circulatingelements disposed in side by side relation and each comprising aplurality of superposed tubes sinuously connected by fixed return bendsto form tube groups removable as units from each element, and detachablecouplings interconnecting each tube group above the lowermost one in therespective elements to the group below; one or more plates individual toeach tube group and interconnecting the component tubes thereof, thelower edges of the plates for the groups above the lowermost one in eachelement resting at least in part upon the upper edges of the plates forthe next lower group of the same element; one or more beams extendingtransversely of said elements and supportingly engaging the plates forthe lowest tube groups of the respective elements, the plates for theseveral superposed groups of the respective elements being formed attheir side edges to interlock with the plates for adjacent elements sothat upon removal of a group of tubes from a particular element, anyother groups of tubes of said element above the position of the groupremoved therefrom are supported on said beam or beams through theintermediary of plates associated with the elements adjacent saidparticular element; and means for supporting said beams.

10. In an economizer or the like having a plurality of fluid circulatingelements disposed in side-by-side relation and each comprising aplurality of superposed tubes sinuously connected by fixed return bendsto form tube groups removable as units from each element, anddetach-able couplings interconnecting each tube group above thelowermost one in the respective elements to the group below; one or moreplates individual to each tube group interconnecting the component tubesthereof; one or more beams extending transversely of said elements forsupporting the plates of the lowermost groups of tubes in the respectiveelements, the plates for any group above the lowermost one in therespective elements resting in part upon the plates for the groupstherebelow of the same unit and in part upon the plates for groups oftubes of other elements adjacent thereto so that upon removal of a groupof tubes from a particular element any other groups of tubes of saidelement above the position of the group removed therefrom are supportedon said beam or beams through the intermediary of plates associated withthe elements adjacent to said particular element; and means forsupporting said beams.

11. In an economizer or the like having a plu rality of fluidcirculating elements disposed in side-by-side relation and. eachcomprising a plurality of superposed tubes sinuously connected by fixedreturn bends to form tube groups remov- E able as units from eachelement, and detachable ,couplings interconnecting each tube group abovethe lowermost one in the respective elements to the plates of thelowermost groups of tubes in the respective elements, the plates for anygroup above the lowermost one in the respective elements resting in partupon the plates for the groups therebelow of the same unit and in partupon the plates of corresponding lower tube groups of another elementadjacent thereto so that upon removal of a group of tubes from aparticular element any other tube groups of said elementabove theposition of the group removed therefrom are supported on said beam orbeams through the intermediary of plates associated with elementsadjacent to said particular element; and means for supporting saidbeams.

JOHN H. SENGSTAKEN.

